News

Wanindu Hasaranga, Shaheen Afridi and Azam Khan help Desert Vipers conquer Gulf Giants

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2024

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Shaheen Afridi’s deadly spell of three wickets for 22 runs and breezy knocks from Wanindu Hasaranga and Azam Khan guided Desert Vipers to a six-wicket win over defending champions Gulf Giants in the seventh match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. The clash of the finalists of the first edition saw Afridi’s spell restrict Giants to 160 for 6 in 20 overs.

Vipers won the match with eight balls to spare through Hasaranga’s 42 off just 19 balls with four boundaries and two sixes. He had put on 57 runs in 33 deliveries for the third wicket with Adam Hose. Afzal Khan then hit a breezy unbeaten 26 off 14 balls with three boundaries and a six. He too added 41 runs in 19 balls for the fourth wicket with Hose, who hit a sedate 39 runs off 35 balls with four boundaries. Vipers who were at the bottom of the table have now jumped to the fourth place.

For the Giants, Chris Lynn top scored with 63 runs off 42 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes. He put on 89 runs off 59 balls for the third wicket with Jordan Cox before Afridi put the brakes on the run flow. Cox hit 32 off 29 balls with a boundary and a six.

Vipers won the toss and chose to bowl. In the opening over, Pakistan T20 skipper Afridi, making his tournament debut, conceded a boundary to Jamie Smith over mid-off off the fifth ball. Mohammad Amir took a wicket in the second over, dismissing skipper James Vince for 1 as he lifted the ball to Colin Munro at mid-on. Afridi also claimed a wicket in the third over, clean bowling Smith for 5 after a missed big hit.

Lynn wiped away the impact of two early wickets by scoring two boundaries and a six off Tymal Mills. Cox played second fiddle as Lynn went for the big hits. Lynn reached his half-century in 35 balls with six boundaries and three sixes. When the Giants were four runs short of the 100-run mark, Mills made Lynn miscue his shot, and wicketkeeper Azam Khan caught the skier for 63.

Shimron Hetmyer, who joined Cox, got out caught behind for 10 off Hasaranga. After that, Afridi picked his second wicket, forcing Cox to hit to Alex Hales at long-on for 32. Chris Jordan became Afridi’s third victim, falling identically for 14. Usman Khan hit an unbeaten 16 to ensure his team a challenging total.

Needing 161 to win, Vipers lost an early wicket when Richard Gleeson, who came in as Super Sub in place of Lynn, got Colin Munro out caught at third man for 6. Hales on 11 escaped being stumped off a Mujeeb Ur Rehman slider but fell in the seventh over to Dominic Drakes to a spectacular catch by Aayan Khan at the fine leg boundary for 21.

Hasaranga who joined Adam Hose hit Aayan Khan for two consecutive boundaries and also Jordan for a six and a boundary off successive balls. At the half way mark, Vipers needed 85 runs to win. Drakes picked the valuable wicket of Hasaranga in the 13th over by getting him caught by Usman Khan at long-off for 42.

Azam Khan unleased his hard-hitting skills and whacked Jordan for a six to mid-wicket followed by three boundaries off Blessing Muzarabani in the 15th over. This reduced the target to a gettable 32 runs from the last five overs. Hose got out to Gleeson, caught behind for 39 but Sherfane Rutherford and Khan steered their team to the target.

Vipers skipper Colin Munro hailed Hasaranga and Afridi; “It was a team effort, winning the toss was a big favour. Hasaranga was just brilliant, what a player. When you come up against Gulf Giants, we need to have our plans in place. We have all the analysts in T20 cricket, but what’s most important is adapt to what is in front of you. Afridi was outstanding and has so much experience, he knows his skill and executes them really well.”

Giants skipper Vince lauded Hasaranga’s knock. “We started well with the ball, put the pressure on them, but the way Hasaranga came out and batted took the game away from us. We need to tidy up in all facets on the game. We can’t afford to have lull periods because quality opposition will make you pay.”

Player of the match Hasaranga said: “I bat at number 7 generally, but today I had a chance up the order so I tried to go on the attack. I like to have that all-rounder tag in front of my name, so happy to perform with the bat as well.”

Food

Abu Dhabi to ban junk food from supermarket checkouts and entrances

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Shoppers in Abu Dhabi will soon see fewer chocolates, crisps, sugary drinks and other unhealthy snacks at supermarket entrances, checkout counters and other high-visibility locations under a new policy aimed at encouraging healthier eating habits.

From January 1, 2027, supermarkets larger than 4,000 square feet and online grocery platforms will no longer be allowed to prominently display food and drinks classified as high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) under the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre’s SEHHI nutrition classification system.

The initiative, led by Healthy Living in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Registration Authority (ADRA) and supported by several government entities, is designed to make healthier choices easier without restricting what people can buy.

Under the new rules, HFSS products cannot be displayed at store entrances, end-of-aisle promotions or checkout areas. Online retailers must also remove these products from homepage promotions, search recommendations, pop-up advertisements and checkout pages.

Authorities stressed that the products are not being banned. They will remain available in their usual aisles, allowing shoppers to purchase them while reducing impulse buying driven by prominent placement.

Officials said the policy is based on behavioural science and international best practices to create shopping environments that naturally encourage healthier decisions.

Retailers across Abu Dhabi are preparing for the changes ahead of the mandatory deadline, with some stores already implementing the new placement standards across their stores in the emirate.

The initiative forms part of Abu Dhabi’s wider preventive health strategy, which focuses on reducing lifestyle-related diseases by embedding healthier choices into everyday life.

Announcements

August fuel rates announced: UAE petrol prices go up

Published

2 days ago

July 31, 2026

Michael Gomes

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UAE motorists will pay more at the pump from Saturday after the UAE Fuel Price Committee announced higher petrol and diesel prices for August 2026.

The revised rates, which take effect from August 1, are:

Super 98: Dh3.60 per litre (up from Dh3.40)
Special 95: Dh3.49 per litre (up from Dh3.29)
E-Plus 91: Dh3.41 per litre (up from Dh3.21)
Diesel: Dh3.80 per litre (up from Dh3.60)

The increase reverses July’s price reduction and comes after volatility in global oil markets during the past month.

The UAE Fuel Price Committee reviews retail fuel prices at the end of each month, with rates determined in line with movements in international oil markets.

The new prices will remain in effect throughout August 2026.

Education

Emirates recruits UAE students to turn retired aircraft into new products

Published

3 days ago

July 30, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Emirates Engineering has launched a new programme giving UAE university students the chance to transform retired aircraft materials into innovative products while gaining hands-on experience with the airline’s engineering teams.

Called Material Futures Studio, the six-week initiative is led by Emirates Engineering’s Upcycling department. It aims to inspire the next generation of aviation engineers by challenging students to find creative new uses for materials recovered from retired aircraft.

The first edition brings together 23 students from Khalifa University, Emirates Aviation University and the University of Sharjah.

Students began the programme with an orientation session and a behind-the-scenes tour of Emirates Engineering’s facilities in Dubai, where they met senior leaders, explored aircraft maintenance operations and visited the airline’s upcycling workshop to see how retired aircraft materials are already being turned into new products.

How the programme works

Over six weeks, participants will develop concepts and prototypes using materials recovered from retired aircraft, with guidance from Emirates Engineering specialists throughout the design and development process.

The programme will conclude with a showcase where students present their final ideas and prototypes.

According to Emirates, the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by giving students practical engineering experience while enabling the airline to tap into fresh ideas and emerging talent.

Part of Emirates’ sustainability efforts

Material Futures Studio builds on Emirates’ wider sustainability strategy and its multi-billion-dollar aircraft retrofit programme.

The airline is currently refurbishing 219 Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft, one of the largest retrofit projects in the aviation industry. Rather than discarding materials removed during the upgrades, Emirates Engineering has been repurposing them into new products through its in-house upcycling projects.

These include the Aircrafted by Emirates collection of limited-edition luggage, bags and accessories made from reclaimed aircraft materials, as well as Aircrafted KIDS, which transforms retired aircraft fabrics into backpacks for children. Emirates says more than 4,000 backpacks have already been donated to children in 11 countries.